After the Battle of Ailing, the Qi State lost Yigu and suffered heavy losses in its troops, so it had to withdraw all its troops to Linzi for defense.

The coalition army cleared the Yigu in three days, and the main force of 80,000 finally entered the pass, and then King Wu led the remaining more than 80,000 people to continue to march to Linzi. King Wu ordered the siege of Linzi City, and two months later, the Qi State surrendered.

After this battle, the allied forces of Wu, Lu, Chen, and Yue lost a total of 80,000 troops, of which Wu suffered the largest loss, with nearly 50,000 dead and wounded. Although the Qi State paid a lot of gold, silver, grain and grass, it was hardly worth mentioning compared to the consumption of this great war.

At this point, the princes and nations were terrified when they heard of Wu, and Wu finally became the new overlord of the land of China.

In mid-September, in the golden autumn, King Wu led an army of 60,000 to return to Gusu.

Zhang Xun was re-promoted to general because of his outstanding military achievements, and on the basis of his official reinstatement, he was promoted to the third-level knighthood and was a very popular minister.

At the celebration banquet that night, all the officials toasted Zhang Xun, Zhang Xun celebrated on the surface, but his heart was inexplicably irritable, and every time he drank, he tasted it lightly, and finally passed the banquet, and Zhang Xun returned to the house to rest.

In the huge General's Mansion, there is no one except the servants. Zhang Xun lay on the bed, tossing and turning, not only was he not drunk, but he couldn't sleep anyway. He put on his clothes and left the mansion alone.

The night was already a little cold, and the wind blew into his sleeves, making him shiver, Zhang Xun shrunk his neck, tightened his collar and continued to move forward. The streets of Gusu were deserted and looked particularly depressed. As he walked, he saw a peach branch sticking out of the courtyard wall.

Arrived, the familiar courtyard.

Zhang Xun knocked on the door gently, "Brother Gonghui, are you sleeping?" ”

It didn't take long for the door to open.

"Xiao Xun, you're here."

"Well, Brother Gonghui, I'm ...... I couldn't sleep, so I came to talk to you. ”

"Come into the house and talk about it."

"Good ......"

Walking into the yard and looking at the familiar scene, Zhang Xun's footsteps stopped, he stroked the peach tree, and suddenly recalled the scene of everyone having a snowball fight under the peach tree that year. It's just that now there is no crystal frost and snow on the branches, only golden dead leaves.

"Let's go inside, it's cold outside." Gong Huiran patted Zhang Xun's shoulder.

"Oh......"

The room was still as clean and tidy as I remembered, and the room was simply furnished, except for the bed and cabinets, only a few bamboo slips were piled up. A copper kettle hangs from the fire by the window, its spout gurgling and steaming, and the warm fragrance of flowers.

"It's so fragrant, I have an impression of this smell!"

"Well, this tea is called Baihua, and you have drunk it."

"That's right! I remember that every time it was cold, Brother Gonghui would cook flowers for us to drink. ”

"Yes, Baihua tea is warm, and it is most suitable for drinking in cold seasons."

With that, he took out a white handkerchief, folded it twice, and then pinched the lid of the pot and lifted it. Then, he took a delicate wooden box and put some fresh grain in it.

"What is this?"

"It's a freshly beaten grain, and it's very fresh. The grains are the most replenishing and boiled with potpourri tea, which complements each other very well. ”

"Oh, so that's the case, Brother Gonghui is really powerful, and he is so particular about drinking tea!"

Gong Wanran shook his head and said, "It's just that I like some beautiful things in the world." ”

After a while, the little pot boiled, and the fragrance of the flowers wafted the tea, and now mixed with the mellow smell of some grains, and the room was filled with almost the smell of the earth.

Gong Hui Ran put out two small plates and said, "Okay, you can drink it." ”

Zhang Xun was impatient, and reached out to grab the handle of the pot, but Gong Wanran gently patted Zhang Xun's hand away and smiled: "Hot." ”

Gong Hui Ran padd it with a handkerchief, lifted the copper kettle, and then filled the two small plates.

Zhang Xun picked up the small dish, put it in front of his nose and took a deep breath.

"Ahh It smells so good! ”

Zhang Xun blew a few breaths into the small saucer, and took a sip impatiently, and couldn't help but show a happy expression on his face.

"It's so warm."

Gong Huiran also took a sip and said, "Well, drink more, you didn't drink less today, it can make your stomach feel a little more comfortable." ”

"Hey, I didn't drink much today, and I'm not drunk at all now."

"Really? I see you drink a lot. ”

"No, I'm just talking about it, and those people don't dare to say anything anyway."

"Well, you are in a high position now, and those people only want to cling, how dare they force you to drink?"

Zhang Xun finished the tea on the plate, frowned and said, "Recently, I always feel that the wine is getting more and more difficult to drink. ”

"Really?" Gong Wanran poured Zhang Xun full of flowers of tea.

"It's not ...... In fact, the wine is getting better and better, maybe it's just that I'm not in the mood...... I still remember when I first came to Gusu, the three of us had some loose drinks on the street, and we could buy a little snacks, and we could chat happily all night. What kings, princes, fame and fortune are not as good as heaven and earth in a wine glass. I still remember one time, when I got up in the morning, I found that Xiao Ji and I actually had a wine jar on our faces. Ha ......" The corners of Zhang Xun's mouth were about to rise, but the laughter stopped abruptly, and then he lowered his eyebrows and was silent.

The copper kettle gurgled and rolled, and the boiling sound was particularly loud in the silence.

After a long time, Gong Wanran finally asked, "How is Brother Ji now?" ”

He ...... Well...... He ...... now" Zhang Xun looked at Gong Wanran, who seemed to have a lot to say, but he couldn't organize the language well, and finally he could only nod and say: "He's fine." ”

"Oh...... That's good......"

"This time it was he who saved me."

"Well, it's the third time."

"yes, it's the third time, hey, I'm afraid there won't be a next time......"

Gong Wanran looked at Zhang Xun, and had a lot of words in his heart, but he didn't say a word. Because he knows that Zhang Xun now is different from before, in the past, Zhang Xun didn't understand many Taoist ideals and needed him to guide him, but now, Zhang Xun's heart is as clear as him.

Zhang Xun drank the hundred flowers on the plate in one gulp, got up and said, "Okay, Brother Gonghui, I'll go back." ”

"It's so late, why don't you leave, I'll keep your room."

"Hmm......" Zhang Xun hesitated, but still shook his head and said, "Forget it, I'll go back." ”

"Okay, I'll send you."

"No need, Brother Gonghui, I'll just go back by myself, it's not too far."

"Okay."

Gong Hui Ran sent Zhang Xun out of the courtyard gate, after the two saluted and waved goodbye, Zhang Xun turned to leave, just took two steps, Zhang Xun turned around again, and said to Gong Hui Ran: "Brother Gong Hui, next time I come to you for a drink." ”

"Okay."

Then, Zhang Xun turned around and left, and Gong Huiran also closed the courtyard door.

Ten days later, outside the city.

The autumn wind was bleak, the leaves were withering, and Ji Zheng led the army back to Huiji City. King Yue has already put out a guard of honor, leading hundreds of officials to greet him under the city, Ji Zheng turned over and dismounted, just about to salute, King Yue quickly stepped forward to hold him, took his hand, laughed and said to the officials: "Haha! Congratulations to General Ji on his triumphant return! ”

"Congratulations to General Ji on his triumphant return!" All the officials congratulated in unison.

Ji Zheng was flattered and hurriedly saluted King Yue.

"The general doesn't have to be polite! Come with me, today our monarchs and ministers will not get drunk and will not return! ”

At the banquet, the monarchs and ministers of the Yue Kingdom were staggered, and they were festive.

King Yue raised his glass and said: "On this expedition, General Ji has won a complete victory!" Outstanding achievements! Congratulations! Come! General Ji, this king drinks with you! ”

Ji Zheng hurriedly raised his glass, "The last general is ashamed." ”

As soon as King Yue raised his hand, he drank the wine in the cup with Ji Zheng.

King Yue put down his wine glass and said with a smile: "Why should the general be ashamed? ”

"Our army is not the main force, and the ministers are not the main generals, so I really don't dare to claim credit."

"Haha! The general's words are wrong! If it weren't for the general rushing to the rescue of Yigu in time, this battle would have fallen short! Even the husband will die without a place to be buried! Ha ha! ”

Fan Li also raised his glass and said with a smile: "King, if you judge the general's merits only by this, it is too much to underestimate the general, in fact, for my Yue country, the general's merits are far more than that." ”

"Oh?" King Yue was interested, "How do you say this?" ”

Fan Li didn't answer directly, but turned to Ji Zheng and asked with a smile: "General, when your handsome army went to the rescue in Yigu, did you encounter resistance?" ”

Ji Zheng nodded and said: "At that time, the Qi army had 40,000 troops to confront the 20,000 elites of our coalition army, and when General Zhang's 2,000 light cavalry left, the 40,000 Qi army detected the movement of our army and immediately blocked the support troops led by me. ”

"Well, then...... General, in the face of 40,000 people, how did you get out of the blockade and go to the rescue? ”

"I detached 8,000 elites from the remaining 18,000 men and ordered them to advance in the direction of Linzi with all their might, and the 40,000 Qi troops were afraid that the capital would be lost, so they had to hold their positions. Although all the 8,000 elites were sacrificed, it also bought me a chance. ”

"And then?"

"Then I led the remaining 10,000 people to burn the remaining grain and grass, discarded all the baggage, and marched towards the direction of Yigu with all my might, so that I arrived in time."

After hearing this, King Yue raised his glass and laughed: "Hahaha! The general really used his soldiers like a god! Come, and drink with the king. ”

Ji Zheng also raised his glass, and was about to toast to King Yue, but when he saw Fan Li suddenly get up, he brushed his beard and laughed: "The general will avoid the heavy and light." ”

Ji Zheng's face was embarrassed, he put down his wine glass and asked in a low voice, "What does Master Fan mean?" ”

"Hehe, as far as I know, the general led 10,000 people to attack with all his might, and he had already arrived near the Yigu Valley just after noon, but the general actually got lost there, and the speed of the march plummeted, and the last dozen miles were stunned and walked for a whole afternoon!"

Ji Zheng lowered his head, his expression was solemn, his brows were tightened, he pinched the wine glass fiercely, and did not say a word.

King Yue was puzzled and asked, "The general shouldn't get lost, right?" What's going on? At that time, the situation could be described as urgent. ”

Fan Li laughed: "Haha, king! This is the outstanding feature of our General Ji! ”

"Oh?"

"As far as I know, after arriving near the Wing Valley, the Great General stepped up his reconnaissance, and in fact, the Great General knew the situation in the Wing Valley well. The reason why they attacked at night was precisely to consume the forces of Wu and Qi to the maximum, and then reap the benefits of the fishermen! Ha ha! The timing of the general's rescue was just right, in one afternoon, Qi and Wu had lost a total of sixty or seventy thousand troops, and now both countries have lost their strength, and there is no way to return to the sky! ”

"I see! Ha ha! The general is far-sighted, and he is really the number one general in the world! Come! This king respects you! Please! ”

"Thank you...... King Xie. ”

Ji Zheng reluctantly made a trace of joy, raised his wine glass, and drank the elixir in the cup in a big gulp.

At the end of the banquet, Ji Zheng was drunk, and Qingmen helped Ji Zheng back to the mansion. Aoto helped Ji Zheng to the side of the bed and helped him take off his clothes.

Ji Zheng pushed open the green door in a daze, and laughed loudly: "I...... I, hehe, I'm not drunk......"

Qingmen still helped Ji Zheng take off his clothes, and saluted respectfully: "General, rest early." Aoto retired. ”

"Hehe, I'm ...... I'm not drunk......"

Qingmen let out a light breath, and was about to turn around and leave, but just walked to the door, but heard Ji Zheng retching. Qingmen immediately turned back, and seeing Ji Zheng lying on the side of the bed and seemed to vomit, Qingmen hurriedly took a spittoon and gently patted Ji Zheng on the back.

Ji Zheng retched uncomfortably for a while, but he didn't spit out, he waved his hand and motioned for Qingmen to help him lie down.

Qingmen helped Ji Zheng up, leaned on the head of the bed, and then took a bowl of water to feed Ji Zheng to drink. Ji Zheng poured two sips of water and breathed a long sigh of relief, which made him feel more comfortable.

Ji Zheng lay on the bed panting and gradually quieted down.

Qingmen sat on the edge of the bed and guarded for a while, feeling that Ji Zheng was asleep, so he got up and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Qingmen just got together, but he was grabbed by Ji Zheng's wrist.

"General, what do you command?"

Ji Zheng didn't speak for a long time, but just grabbed Qingmen's wrist.

After a long time, Ji Zheng spoke: "Qingmen ......"

"The subordinates are here."

"You tell the truth, did Zhang Xun almost die?"

Qingmen was silent for a while, and then he hesitated and said, "General, this ...... Well...... General Zhang, he ...... He was a natural person, and there was no big problem, but in the end he only suffered a little skin injury. ”

"No, that's not what I'm asking." Ji Zheng's breathing suddenly became rapid, and his words turned into hysterical roars as he spoke: "I didn't ask you what happened to him in the end!" I was asking you! He! Zhang Xun! Is it fate hanging by a thread! Didn't you almost die! Isn't it! ”

"General, General Zhang, he's fine......"

"Answer me!!"

"Yes! General! It's the incompetence of subordinates! failed to protect General Zhang, and put General Zhang in danger many times! Please, General, punish you! ”

"Haha! Ha ha! No! It's not your fault! It was my fault! It was my fault! Ha ha! I deliberately put my brother to death! I deliberately delayed the rescue! Ha ha! It's all my fault! ”

"General! You are not wrong! ”

"That's not right! If I'm not wrong, whose fault is it?! ”

"No one is wrong! General! ”

"Hehe......" Ji Zheng suddenly calmed down and said with a wry smile: "Hehe, no one is wrong?" Hehe, no one is wrong......"